Presbyterian

Presbyterian

Followers: 75 million worldwide
Date Founded: 16th century
Location Founded: Switzerland, Scotland
Founders: John Calvin
Books Outside the Bible: None
Belief: Calvinism

The Presbyterian movement began with John Calvin (see picture above) who wrote Ecclesiastial Ordinances. This book focused on justification by faith alone, predestination, and the authority of the clergy. It is important to note that unlike most other denominations that believe man has a free choice to choose Christ, Calvin believed that God has already predestined certain men to enter heaven. There is some truth to this, but it is not entirely correct. See my article on Predestination for more.

Currently, there are several major Presbyterian church bodies in America. These include the Presbyterian Church (U. S. A.), the United Church of Christ (UCC), the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), and the Reformed Church in the United States (RCUS). They have varied beliefs at each church. The greatest concentration of Presbyterians in the United States centers around Charlotte, North Carolina, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Outside the United States, Presbyterianism is popular in England, Latin America, East Africa, and South Korea.

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